San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller talks with Pat Boulette, 96, after son, Monsignor Michael Joseph Roulette was appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Boulette, was born in New York but grew up in Fredericksburg. His was with the Notre Dame Parish in Kerrville before this announcement. less

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller talks with Pat Boulette, 96, after son, Monsignor Michael Joseph Roulette was appointed as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller (left) announced that Monsignor Michael Joseph Boulette (second from left) has been appointed auxiliary bishop.

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller (left) announced that Monsignor Michael Joseph Boulette (second from left) has been appointed auxiliary bishop.

Photo: JERRY LARA /San Antonio Express-News

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Monsignor Michael Joseph Boulette, addresses the crowd during a press conference announcing his appointment as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Boulette, was born in New York but grew up in Fredericksburg. His was with the Notre Dame Parish in Kerrville before this announcement. less

Monsignor Michael Joseph Boulette, addresses the crowd during a press conference announcing his appointment as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Boulette, was born in ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Hill Country rejoices for beloved priest

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KERRVILLE — With more than four decades in the priesthood, including 24 years of service in Kerr County, Monsignor Michael Joseph Boulette understands the importance of not circulating information shared in confidence.

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But even “Father Mike,” as he’s known to congregants, had a tough time keeping mum about significant news this month that didn’t concern a parishioner or a church event, but rather himself and Pope Francis.

Boulette learned that the pontiff had appointed him auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Antonio in a Jan. 15 phone call from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the pope’s apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to the U.S.

But it would be more than a week before the public announcement.

“I did tell my 96-year-old mother, but I couldn’t tell anyone else,” said Boulette, 66, who’d been in charge of St. Peter Upon the Water, a retreat center in Ingram, since ending his second stint leading Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville.

Eight days after he accepted the appointment, Pat Boulette was on hand for the news conference Monday where Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller announced that her son was filling the auxiliary bishop’s post that had been vacant four years.

“One of the greatest joys that I have today is that she lived this long to see this day,” Boulette said in introducing his mother, who still lives in Fredericksburg, where the family moved in 1959 from upstate New York. “She has never been jealous of God’s call on my life and has always directed me to his presence and love.”

The archdiocese said Boulette will be ordained a bishop at 2 p.m. March 20 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in San Antonio.

News of his selection generated elation among former co-workers and parishioners in the Hill Country.

“I’m pleased for him, but I’m really pleased for the people of the archdiocese because now they’ll be able to experience how he leads — as Jesus modeled for us,” said Dorothy Cass, director of liturgy and music at Notre Dame parish in Kerrville.

Boulette was pastor there from 1993 to 2004, when he left to lead St. Peter Upon the Water: A Center for Spiritual Direction and Formation. He returned to Notre Dame as administrator pro tem in 2010 and served until this past June.

“Joy is infused in all that he does, and his love of the liturgy of the church is just beyond words,” said Cass, whose tenure there eclipsed Boulette’s. “Before he pursued anything, he taught us you always start with prayer, just as Jesus did, and his actions come out of that.”

Boulette has an uncanny ability to connect with a congregation, said Bob Reeves, a Kerr County commissioner who sometimes attends services at Notre Dame.

“He’s very personable, and you always leave Mass feeling like he was talking directly to you,” Reeves said. “It’s great for the archbishop, but we’re going to miss him.”

Father David Wagner, who assumed the pulpit at Notre Dame in July, said the transition was easy because Boulette had assembled a top-notch staff and was always available with advice or support, if needed.

“He’s a gentle, caring man. He just expresses the love and mercy of Christ,” Wagner said. “He’s well-loved and highly respected, and everyone here was just overjoyed at him becoming a bishop.”

He said the church, which serves more than 2,000 families, plans to hold a reception and send-off for the new auxiliary bishop but that no date has been set.

Boulette is an avid player of bridge, the card game, and has a healthy sense of humor, noted parishioner Jimmy Reno, who said the priest replied to his congratulatory text message Monday with, “Pray God forgives Gustavo and the pope.”

During the media briefing, Boulette, speaking alternately in Spanish and English, was moved to tears by the prospect of working beside García-Siller in the archdiocese.

The two men, clearly friends, engaged in playful ribbing at the lectern, repeatedly generating laughs from the audience.

Saying Boulette would bring “a spirituality of joy and simplicity” to his new role, the archbishop added, “We are extremely grateful to the Holy Father for his gift to the church in South Texas.”

“He will be a compassionate bishop and a living shepherd to the priests and the people of the archdiocese,” García-Siller said. “He is well-known in the archdiocese for leading parish missions and retreats, preaching about the love and mercy of God.”

Boulette thanked the parishes that he’d served during his career — “for you have taught me how to be a priest” — as well as fellow priests and retreat employees he’d worked beside.

“Our journey is not over,” he said, adding, “No matter what preparations are set in front of us, let us never stop washing feet, according to the example of Christ.”